+/**
+ * This function will return a new picture usable by p_filter as an output
+ * buffer. You have to release it using filter_DeletePicture or by returning
+ * it to the caller as a pf_video_filter return value.
+ * Provided for convenience.
+ *
+ * \param p_filter filter_t object
+ * \return new picture on success or NULL on failure
+ */
+static inline picture_t *filter_NewPicture( filter_t *p_filter )
+{
+ picture_t *p_picture = p_filter->pf_vout_buffer_new( p_filter );
+ if( !p_picture )
+ msg_Warn( p_filter, "can't get output picture" );
+ return p_picture;
+}
+
+/**
+ * This function will release a picture create by filter_NewPicture.
+ * Provided for convenience.
+ *
+ * \param p_filter filter_t object
+ * \param p_picture picture to be deleted
+ */
+static inline void filter_DeletePicture( filter_t *p_filter, picture_t *p_picture )
+{
+ p_filter->pf_vout_buffer_del( p_filter, p_picture );
+}
+
+/**
+ * This function will return a new subpicture usable by p_filter as an output
+ * buffer. You have to release it using filter_DeleteSubpicture or by returning
+ * it to the caller as a pf_sub_filter return value.
+ * Provided for convenience.
+ *
+ * \param p_filter filter_t object
+ * \return new subpicture
+ */
+static inline subpicture_t *filter_NewSubpicture( filter_t *p_filter )
+{
+ subpicture_t *p_subpicture = p_filter->pf_sub_buffer_new( p_filter );
+ if( !p_subpicture )
+ msg_Warn( p_filter, "can't get output subpicture" );
+ return p_subpicture;
+}
+
+/**
+ * This function will release a subpicture create by filter_NewSubicture.
+ * Provided for convenience.
+ *
+ * \param p_filter filter_t object
+ * \param p_subpicture to be released
+ */
+static inline void filter_DeleteSubpicture( filter_t *p_filter, subpicture_t *p_subpicture )
+{
+ p_filter->pf_sub_buffer_del( p_filter, p_subpicture );
+}
+
+/**
+ * This function will return a new audio buffer usable by p_filter as an
+ * output buffer. You have to release it using block_Release or by returning
+ * it to the caller as a pf_audio_filter return value.
+ * Provided for convenience.
+ *
+ * \param p_filter filter_t object
+ * \param i_size size of audio buffer requested
+ * \return block to be used as audio output buffer
+ */
+static inline block_t *filter_NewAudioBuffer( filter_t *p_filter, int i_size )
+{
+ block_t *p_block = p_filter->pf_audio_buffer_new( p_filter, i_size );
+ if( !p_block )
+ msg_Warn( p_filter, "can't get output block" );
+ return p_block;
+}
+
+/**
+ * It creates a blend filter
+ */
+VLC_EXPORT( filter_t *, filter_NewBlend, ( vlc_object_t *, vlc_fourcc_t i_chroma_dst ) );
+
+/**
+ * It configures blend filter parameters that are allowed to changed
+ * after the creation.
+ */
+VLC_EXPORT( int, filter_ConfigureBlend, ( filter_t *, int i_dst_width, int i_dst_height, const video_format_t *p_src ) );
+
+/**
+ * It blends a picture into another one.
+ *
+ * The input picture is not modified and not released.
+ */
+VLC_EXPORT( int, filter_Blend, ( filter_t *, picture_t *p_dst, int i_dst_x, int i_dst_y, const picture_t *p_src, int i_alpha ) );
+
+/**
+ * It destroys a blend filter created by filter_NewBlend.
+ */
+VLC_EXPORT( void, filter_DeleteBlend, ( filter_t * ) );